Tag: substanceabuse

Mental and/or substance use disorders affect all communities nationwide, but with commitment and support, people with these disorders can achieve healthy lifestyles and lead rewarding lives in recovery. By seeking help, people who experience mental and/or substance use disorders can embark on a new path toward improved health and overall wellness. The focus of National Recovery Month (Recovery Month) this September is to celebrate their journey. Recovery Month spreads the message that behavioral health is essential to health and one’s overall wellness, and that prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover.

The impact of mental and/or substance use disorders is apparent in our local community, and an estimated 6.8 out of 100,000 people in Virginia suffering from drug overdose fatalities. According to the 2013 National
Survey on Drug Use and Health, 22.7 million persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem (8.6 percent of people aged 12 or older). Of these, 2.5 million (10.9 percent of those who needed treatment) received treatment at a specialty facility. Also in 2013, out of the 43.8 million Americans aged 18 or older who had any mental illness in the past year, 19.6 million (44.7 percent of those with any mental illness) received mental health services in the past year. Through Recovery Month, people become more aware and able to recognize the signs of mental and/or substance use disorders, which can lead more people into needed treatment. Managing the effects of these conditions can help people achieve healthy lifestyles, both physically and emotionally.

The Recovery Month observance continues to work to improve the lives of those affected by mental and/or
substance use disorders by raising awareness of these diseases and educating communities about the prevention,
treatment, and recovery resources that are available.

Today’s discussion is on the impact of prejudice and discrimination on the mental health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer individuals. Our guests today are representatives of agencies collaborating to provide holistic services and advocacy for LGBTQ individuals in our community. Through their combined efforts, they are creating a more accessible environment for LGBTQ individuals to receive services